Feeler mechanism for looms



July 20 1926. K 1,593,426

L. H. BROWN ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 22 1 925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I H July 20 1926. 1,593,426

L. H. BROWN ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nmHmHHHYHH!!! Inn-In fa/eldai,

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July 20 1926. 1,593,426

L. H. BROWN ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ,luly 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

LARKIN H. BROWN AND GEORGE E. REPASS, F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNORS TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER. MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

This invention relates to such feeler mechanisms as are applied to automatic looms for causing the action of the automatic replen ishing mechanism to function when the filling on the bobbin in the shuttle has become nearly exhausted.

In the form shown in a part of the accompanying drawings, the feeler is a right hand side swipe or slipping feeler. In another part of the drawings, the feeler is shown reversed to make it left hand side swipe or slipping.

The object of the invention is to produce a feeler mechanism of simple and compact form, comprising a small number of parts and adapted to accurate and long'continned performance without needing adjustment or repairing, whereby the feeler mechanism and the replenishing mechanism may be adjusted for discharge of the bobbin from the shuttle with the smallest feasible quantity of yarn remaining on the bobbin as wastage, and whereby loss of time by stopping the loom is reduced.

A further object is to produce a feeler mechanism in a form to avoid accidents to the fingers and hands of operatives.

Reducing the quantity of yarn left on the bobbin when the transfer is made is a financially important matter. Under present weaving practice, this wastage is relatively so large as to make, in the aggregate, a large loss item in the operation of a textile *mill. In some lines of work this wastage is as much as two per cent of the yarn. That means two tons of wastage out of one hundred tons of yarn. As wastage, this material is sold at a large loss per pound. Two tons of yarn are an important item.

By making the feeler action sensitive and accurate and .durable, it is safe to so wind the bobbins as to provide for sliding of the feelerwhen the yarn on the bobbin is only suflicient to constitute. a safe reserve length of yarn until the bobbin has been discharged.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing a feeler mechanism contained in the present invention and constructed for side slipping movement of the feeler to the right;

F 2 is an upright section on the line,

22, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; 1

Fig. 3 is a plan of the supportin body, the cover of said body having been removed to show the feeler and associated members, those parts being at rest with the feeler in its feeling position, perpendicular to the bobbin axis;

Fig. 4 is a view of the same mechanism with the feeler pushed endwise by a work ing supply of filling without sidewise movement;

Fig. 5 shows the same mechanism with the feeler moved toward the right by contact with the nearly empty bobbin;

Fig. '6 is an upright section on the line, 66, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 7 is an upright section on the line, 77, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 8 is a transverse, upright section on the line, 8-8, of Figs. 2, 3 and 6, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9 is an upright section on the line, 99, of Fig. 1, looking toward the right;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective-view of a key which controls the action of the cam follower hook; I

Fig. 11 is a section on the line, 11-11,

of Fig. 9, looking toward the left, the key being connected for leftward movement of the feeler as shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the feeler supporting body being reversed for leftward movement of the feeler;

Fig. 13 is a detail section on a part of the .said head into the base, A, to rigidly secure the base to the head. The bracket, A is suitably secured to a stationary part, A",

of the loom by means of a bolt, A, extending through a horizontal slot in the part, A. An upright circumferential main wall, A, rises from the bottom or floor of the base, A, and makes said base dish-form. But said wall is cut low at a part of the rearward end of the base to make an opening, A, in which the feeler, B, may lie.

For convenience in description, it is assumed that the direction of the free end of the feeler is rearward. 1

In the rearward part of,the base, a wall, A, extends forward from about midway between the side walls, A. The front part of said wall is tapped to receive the ca screw, A. Rearward of said screw, sai

wall is tapped to receive the binding screw, A, which extends downward through the cover, A, to bind the cover firmly to the base, A. The ca screw, A, is long enough to extend into t e cover to its upper face,

the cover having an opening larger than the.

diameter of the cap screw, in order that the cap screw will not engage the cover and in .order that, when the body is inverted, as

will be described further on, the cap screw will pass freely through the cover and into the base. The cover has a downwardly-directed circumferential wall, A", which rests upon the wall, A", of the base, A. The front part of the wall, A, has a notch, A, and the cover wall, A, has a downward extension or tooth, A. Engagement of said tooth in said notch prevents the front part of the cover from moving sidewise on the base A. A

About midway between the front and rear ends of the base, A, the left hand side wall is extended inward and forward to form a recem or bearing, A", which normally receives the toe, B, of the feeler, B.

The feeler, B, comprises the leg, 13, the head, B, the foot, B, the heel, B, and the toe, B." The leg is approximately parallel to the sides of the base, A. The foot is approximately parallel to the ends of the base, A The heel, B, normally bears against the right hand wall, A, of the base, A, while the leg, B bears against a face or stop, B, on the wall, A, at the left of the opening, A. At the right of the toe, B, the foot, B, has a rearward curve, B. Rearward of said curve the end wall, A, is notched to leave a stud, C, ,which receives the eye, 0 of a contracting coiled spring, C. On the o posite end of said sprmg 1s a hook, C, w ich engages the foot, B, in the curve, B; 3

In the form shown in the drawings, the feeleris made of a iece of wire bent into the desired shape. e rib, A rises from the bottom of the body, A, beginning at the front wall, A, and extendin rearward arallel to the side wall and en g at the ing, A. A rib, A rises from the body floor at the front wall and extends rearward through the opening, A Said ribs are of proper height to support the feeler at such height as will cause the feeler to almost touch corresponding downwarddirected ribs in the cover, A Thus the feeler is slidable in a horizontal plane lying between said ribs. And the feeler is not carried by other movable members, It

is not on a fixed hinge. It is free or floating.

The spring, C, normally tends to pull the feeler rearward. Such movement being limited by engagement of the toe, B, in the stop or bearing, A, and by contact of the feeler leg with the face, B, said I face forming an abutment or stop for the feeler leg.

Direct forward bobbin pressure on the feeler head, B by yarn engagement which prevents sidewise sliding, causes the feeler to move forward bodily on a line perpendicular to the bobbin axis, the leg of the feeler sliding on the face, B, and the heel of the feeler sliding on the right hand wall, A, and the toe, B moving forward out 'of and away from the bearing, A fand stretched through a distance which 1s short relative to the distance through which the head, B of the feeler moves. In other words, during such movement the part of the feeler between the hook, C of the spring and the end of the toe is a short arm of a lever, while the entire length of the feeler is the long arm of the lever. This relatively short stretching of the spring ofiers relatively small resistance to the sidewise sliding of the head of the feeler. Thus the mechanism is made more sensitive for action when the bare bobbin presses the feeler head. Thus more of the force exerted by the bobbin on the feeler head is conserved for transmission through the feeler to the transmimion rod which is shifted for permitting actuation of the replenishing mechanism, as will be described further on.

The rightward sliding of the feeler continues until the leg, B, of the feeler bears against the face, A", at the right of the opening, A, said face constituting an abutment for limiting the rightward movement of theleg. 'When the bobbin again moves away from the feeler, the spring, 0, causes reverse turning of the entire feeler on the toe, B into the inactive or normal position, the feeler leg, B again resting against theabutment or stop, B and the heel, B2

of the feeler again resting against the right hand base wall, A

The rightward movement of the feeler causes the rightward movement of the transmission rod, E, endwise. Said rod rests in a channel, E, formed in a lateral extension, A, of the base, A, of. the feeler body, said channel allowing free endwise sliding of said rod. The left hand end of said rod bears against the feeler leg when the latter bears against the abutment, B,

so that when the feeler head begins rightward movement, the rod, E, is moved rightward in unison with the movement of the feeler leg.

F is an a proximately horizontal actuator of wellown form and suitably supported for endwise movement and operatively connected with a bobbin transfer mechanism (not shown). 0n the rear end of the actuator is a head, F which has a channel, F parallel to the length of the actuator and opening downward. On.- the left hand side of said head are two upright walls, F parallel to each other and perpendicular to the length of the actuator. In the plane of the space between said walls, F the main wall of the actuator has a slot, F, extending upward from the lower edge of the actuator. For endwise movement, the actuator is dependent upon action by the cam follower, G, which is positioned and actuated periodically by any well-known means (not shown) to move forward into the channel, F of the actuator. But the cam follower makes no eng a ement with the actuator unless the body,

of the key, F extends across the channel, F, of the actuator high enough to be in the path of the shoulder, G, of the cam follower head, (31. The key, F is placedbetween the walls, F, the body, F, of the key extending across the channel, F and into the slot, F5. The head, F", of the key is pivoted to the walls, F by means of a horizontal cotter pin, F The head, F, extends above and below the pivot. In

the upper part of the head is a bearing, F, parallel to said pivot. In the lower part of the head said pivot.

In Fig. 1, the transmission rod, E has its right hand end bent laterally and seated in the lower bearing, F The body, F, of the key is so long and so heavy that it will normally turn downward and move the bearing, F and the transmission rod, E, toward the left, whereby the left hand end of the transmission rod is made to bear against the leg of the feeler.

When the rightward movement of the feeler leg forces the rod, E, toward the is a bearing, F ,-parallel to through said body transmit forward motion to the actuator. This involves forward movement of the right hand end of the rod, E. The channel, E may be sufficiently wide to permit the rod to make such slight lateral turning in said channel as will permit the forward movement of the right hand part of the rod. But it may be pre ferred to make said channel narrow and allow the rod to be sprung sidewise to the limited extent needed for the forward movement of the right hand end of the rod.

The transmission rod, E, is provided with one or more folds or bends, E For making a close adjustment of the length of said rod, either of said folds may be expanded or compressed by the aid of any suitable tool. For making such extension, the blade of an ordinary screw driver may be placed into one of the folds and slightly twisted. For making such compression, a pair of pliers may be made to embrace one of the folds and the jaws of the pliers then pressed slightly toward each other.

When the feeler mechanism is to be used for left hand movement of the feeler on the bobbin, the cap screw, A, is released and the feeler body placedup-side-down on the head, A of the bracket, A the cover, A, of the body then resting on said head. Then the cap screw is extended upward through the opening in the cover and into the threaded part of the base, A. Thus the body is again firmly secured on the head, A Now the movement of the feeler from its rest position must be toward the left. The relation of the transmission rod, E. to the associated parts is now changed as follows: The right hand end of said rod is engaged in the upper bearing, F, of the key head, in order that leftward movement of the rod will so tilt the 'key as to bring the key body into the upper or working position. (See Figs. 11 and 12). The left hand end of the rod,E, is extended across the upper face of the body and bent downward and then rightward to lie in the channel E against the'feeler leg. (See Figs. 12 and 13). When the nearly empty bobbin presses against the feeler head and causes slipping of the feeler head, that slipping the position which causes Now it will be seen that without chan e of structure, excepting the change. in t e transmission rod, the mechanism can be used for either rightward or leftward slidin of the feeler head.

IVhen the feeler supporting body is in either the position for right hand slipping or left hand slipping, said body may be adjusted sidewise, by means of the bolt. A, to bring the feeler head into the desired position relative to the bobbin. This feature is useful because inverting said body for left hand slipping places the feeler head farther toward the left.

In the cover, A is a port, 0, for the introduction of lubricating oil. In the base, A, is a similar port, 0, for the same purpose. In the bottom of the base, A, near the opening, A is a recess, 0 to hold lubricating oil. 7

Attention is again directed to the simplicity of the feeler supporting body, the feeler, and thespring, and the small size of the feeler supporting body. The small size of said body reduces cost and makes convenient handling; but a still further and important advantage in this connection-is the fact that on many looms now in use there is room for applying this small structure where there is not room for a larger structure, the placing of the larger structure requiring expensive alterations in that part of the loom.

Locating the spring, C, as in our construction contributes materially to attaining the small size of the feeler supporting body.

The spring is at the side of the feeler foot toward the head, B jof the feeler. Thus the space in the body at the opposite side of the foot need be only large enough to allow the movement of the foot in that direction as far as is needed when the filled bobbin strikes the feeler head or to make room for the heel, B, whenthe feeler head slides on the empty bobbin. The spring, C, is a contracting or pulling spring. If it were located at the other side of the foot, B, it would be an expanding or pushing spring and would need to have associated with it other parts which would require more spacethan the length of the spring. Hence the feeler supporting body would require at that side of the feeler foot as much space as the lengthof the spring when exanded plus the length added for the memrs which support and guide the spring when it acts by expanding or pushing.

Furthermore, when the pulling s ring is used, more delicate action of the eeler is attained. The spring may be weaker and more easily overcome to permit movement of the feeler. The pulled spring may-be entirely free excepting at its Yengagesfthe tooth or lug, C, and the other end e the foot at B. Between those ends. One end for the toe,-'B",'of the feeler is R engaging points, the spring is suspended, not in contact with any member whereby frictional engagement is made. In other Words, frictional resistance is avoided excepting that there may be slight frictional movement on the part, B, of the foot or on the lug, C Hence this may be termed a floating spring. When the pushing spring is used, a stem must extend through the spring to make more or less contact with the coils of the spring, and that stem is usually pivoted and sliding at its base end, while at the other end a yoke or collar is fixed on the stem to form an abutment for the adjacent end of the spring, that yoke or collar being slidable on adjacent fixed parts of the structure, and the stem itself between that abutment and the head ofthe feeler being slidable in fixed members, whereby friction is made. Thus when the filled bobbin strikes the head, suificient pressure must be exerted by the bobbin on the head to overcome all these elements of friction and also the inertia resulting from the greater mass of material in the spring and parts associated therewith. When an empty partof the bobbin strikes the head, similar large force must be exerted to shift the feeler by causing a partial endwise movement. In one form of feeler mechanism largely used, sidewise movement of the head of the feeler involves sliding of an arm of the stem on a cam to com 1 endwise movement of the stem during si ewise movement. Movement of this arm over the can) causes additional friction. During the return of the stem to normal position, after slipping, there is again movement on this cam, and the spring must exert a force sufficient to overcome the several factors of friction, and in so doing, the spring is at a disadvantage on account of the position in which it exerts its force, such friction being transverse to the cam face.

In our construction, the feeler is so supported as to prodnce the smallest amount of friction during its movements. As al- I sidewise slipping on the empty bobbin.

This reduces strain on the spring.

Attention is also asked to the fact that,

the head, A, of the standard, A, is turned toward the bobbin path whereby the feeler su porting body is brought closer to the bobbin. At the same time the bearin A", well the case if the slanting line, a, were more nearly parallel to the line, b.

By making the feeler free and floating and associating with it a delicate spring, the endwise parallel movement of the feeler when the feeler head is engaged by bobbin yarn, that movement is effected with less resistance by the head to the bobbin yarn, or with a lighter impact between the feeler head and the bobbin yarn. The lighter this impact is made, the less will the yarn be battered or bruised by the feeler head. Thus our feeler mechanism is adapted to be used on looms in which the bobbin yarn is delicate.

It is also to be observed that the engage ment between the feeler and the adjacent end of the transmission rod, E, is made in a manner calculated to: afford a minimum amount of friction. No intermediate sliding member making friction is used.

It is also to be observed that all the parts of this mechanism are adapted to economical manufacture and to easy assembling and adjustment and separation and to easy reversal to change the direction of the sliding of the feeler.

It is also to be noted that the base, A, and the cover, A enclose the feeler, B, and the spring, C. Thus these parts and the lubricant within the body are kept free from dirt and lint. This keeps these parts in condition for easy and quick movement, a condition necessary for prolonged and accurate and reliable service.

Furthermore, this COHStIllCtlOIl llfiS an 1mortant bearing upon safety for operatives. 11 forms of feeler mechanisms now in use on looms, the working parts are so exposed as to often cause the pinching of the hands or fingers of the operatives, the mechanisms being so located as to permit accidental bringing of the hand or fingers into engage ment while the attention of the operative 1s base, A, and the cover,

directed elsewhere. Hands of operatives injured in this way frequently require treatment. In our improved mechanism the A, render the mechanism safe in this respect. The hand of the operative may rest on this part of the mechanism without injury. I

And finally attention is againinwted to the fact that the moving parts of the feeler mechanism consist of only two parts, alight feeler and a light springa floating fee'ler and a floating pull s ring, these two members being so positione as to allow making the body of the mechanism small and the action delicate.

l/Ve claim as our invention:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a floating side slipping feeler non-pivotally mounted directly on the feeler stand and movable thereon towards and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, an arm projecting laterally from the feeler, a stop or hearing adapted to be engaged by said arm when the feeler is in rearward position, and a spring acting rearwardly upon the floating feeler and tending to move the feeler on the feeler stand to its rearward feeling position.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a floating non-pivotally mounted side slipping feeler movable bodily directly on the feeler stand, a projecting arm extending laterally from the feeler, a stop or bearing located at one side of the floatingfeeler and adapted to be engaged by said arm when the feeler is in rearward position, and a pull spring acting upon the said arm to move the floatin feeler on the feeler stand to its rearward feeling position.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a floating non-pivoted side slipping feeler mounted to slide'directly on the feeler stand and having a laterally projecting arm, a stop or bearing positioned to be engaged by the laterally projecting arm when the feeler is in rearward feeling position and constituting the fulcrum of the feeler during its side slipping movement, a spring acting in a rearward direction'upon the laterally projecting arm to move the feeler rearwardly and opposing its side slipping movement when the feeler side slips, about the stop or bearing as a fulcrum.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand or support, a floating side slipping feeler which is mounted to slide directly on the feeler stand or support, and having a laterally pro'ecting arm, a fixed stop engaged by the laterally projecting arm when the floating feeler is in its rearward position, and a pull spring acting to move the feeler to its rearward position and to oppose side slipping movement of the feeler when the fillin is substantially exhausted on a detecting heat and the feeler tends to side slip about the stop or bearing as a fulcrum. i

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a non-pivoted side slipping feeler having a rigidly connected lateral projection, a stop or hearing positioned to be engaged by the lateral pro ection and constituting the fulcrum of the feeler during its side slipping movement, a spring connected to the lateral projection between the stop or hearing and the feeler and acting in a rearward direction upon the feeler, and a second stop adapted to be engaged by the feeler for determining its direction when in feeling position.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

. combination of a non-pivoted side slipping feeler having a laterally projecting arm, a stop or bearing adapted to be engaged by the laterally projecting arm and constituting the fulcrum of the feeler during its side slipping movement, a second stop adapted to be engaged by the feeler, and a spring connected to the laterally projecting arm between the two stops and normally acting to move the feeler into its rearward feeling position with the arm and the feeler engaged with their respective stop which thus determine the feeling position of the feeler.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having trackways constituting supports. a side slipping feeler having a laterally projecting arm and slidably supported by the trackways, a stop or hearing on the feeler stand adapted to be engaged by the laterally projecting arm and constituting a fulcrum for the feeler during its side slipping movement, and a spring acting upon said arm between the stop or hearing and the feeler and normally tending to, move the feeler to rearward feeling position.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand and cover having trackways, a side slipping feeler having a laterally extending arm and mounted for sliding and side slipping movement between the trackways, a stop or hearing ada ted to be engaged by the laterally exten edarm, and a spring connected to the laterally extended arm at a point between the stop or hearing and the feeler and normally acting to move the feeler bodily between the trackways toits feeling position.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler stand or support,

a floating side slipping feeler mounted for bodily movement towards and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of'the shuttle directly on the feeler stand or support, an arm extending laterally from the floating feeler, a'stop orbearing adapted to be engaged by said arm when the feeler is in rearward feeling position, and a spring acting upon the feeler to move it to rearward feelin position. r v

10. an a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand and cover having vtrackways, a feeler having a lateral projection and confined between the'trackways' for bodily and side slipping movements, a stop or bearing adapted'to be engaged by the lateral pro ection, a second stop ada ted to be engaged by the feeler when it is in eeling position, and a spring acting upon the lateral projection between the stop or bearing and the feeler to hold the feeler and projection against their respective stops and the feeler in feeling position.

11. In a feeler mechanism-for looms, the combination of a feeler having a rearwardly extending leg, a heel portion at one side of its longitudinal axis and .a projecting arm extending laterally to the opposite side of its longitudinal axis, a spring connected to the laterally projecting arm between the end thereof and the longitudinal axis of the feeler to move the feeler rearwardly, a stop or hearing adapted to be engaged by said arm under the influence of the said spring, and a feeler stand having feeler guiding portions between which the heel and arm of the feeler are guided as it is moved towards and from the front of the loom.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having laterally separated feeler guiding portions, a side slipping feeler having a laterally extending heel for guidance by one of said guiding portions and an, arm extendin laterally from the feeler to the opposite side thereof for guidance by the other of said guiding portions, a stop or bearing at one side of the feeler adapted to be engaged by said am,

and a spring acting to move the feeler to its.

rearward feeling position between the guiding portions.

13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand havin laterally separated guiding portions, a si e slipping feeler bodily movable on the feeler stand between said guiding portions and having aheel offset laterally to one side of the feeler and an arm extendin laterally to the opposite side of the feeler men a ment by the guiding portion of the ac er stand as the feeler is moved bodily towards and from the front of the loom, and a spring connected to the feeler between the acl'acent guiding portion of the feeler stand an normally acting to move thefeeler rearwardly between the guiding portionsof the feeler stand.

14. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having laterally separatedguiding portions and an opening at its rear between the guiding portions through which a feeler may extend Y and have lateral movement, a side slipping feeler bodily movable on the feeler stand between said guidin portions and having a heel offset latera y to one side of the feeler and an arm extending laterally to bodily towards feeler and normally acting to move the feel+ er rearwardly between the guiding portions of the feeler stand. 7 a I t 15. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand-having later ally separated feeler guiding portions and a laterally extending opening at its rear between said guiding'portions, a sideslipping feeler extending through said opening and having a heel offset laterally to one side of.

the longitudinal axis of the feeler to engage the adjacent guiding portion of the feeler stand and position the feeler laterally at one side of the guiding portion with capacity for side slipping movement towards said iding portion, an arm extending laterally rom the other-side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler, a stop or hearing at the same side of the feeler adaptedto be engaged by said arm, and a spring connected to thearm between the stop and .feeler and normally acting to move the feeler' to feeling position. r

16. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler stand, a side slipping feeler mounted for bodily movement on the feeler stand and having a laterally extending arm, a stop .or bearing at one side 'of the feeler for engagement b said arm, a second stop for engagement y the feeler, and a spring acting ;upon the arm between the stop or bearing and the feelerfor moving the feeler on the stand into its feeling position with the arm engaged with the stop or bearing and the feeler en aged with the second stop to position the eeler. 17. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination "of avfeeler stand, a side slipping feeler mounted on the feeler stand and having alaterally, extending arm at' its front portion resting on the feeler stand, a stop or hearing adapted to be' engaged by the arm at one side of the feeler, a second stop adapted to be engaged by the feeler, and a springconnected to the arm between the stop or hearing and the feeler and acting A to cause engagement of the stop or hearing by the arm and the engagement of the second stop y the feeler with the feeler in,

feeling position 4 I k 18. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of the feeler stand, a nonpivotal side slipping feeler mounted for bodily floating movement on the stand and displaced laterally by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a heel extending laterally from one side of the feeler, an arm extending laterally from the other side of the feeler, a stop or bearing located rearward of and adapted" to be engaged by the arm, and a spring connected to the arm between the stop or bearing and the feeler and acting through the arm to impart a rearward .impulse to the feeler. a 1 v 19. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a non-pivotal feeler mounted on the stand for movement towards and from'the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and having a a' laterally extending arm,

guides for directing the movements of the feeler' on the stand, a stop or bearing at one side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler,

a spring'connected to the arm between the endthereof that engages the stop {or bear-.

ing and the longitudinal axis of the feeler and tending to maintain the feeler in rearward feeling position. a

20. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler support comprising complemental base and cover portions, means for securing the feeler support in positionwith either side uppermost, -a feeler mounted between the 'base and cover, an

actuator, a transmitter between the feeler support and actuator, a pivotally mounted key having an extended body portion operativelypositioned by pivotal movement of the key in one direction, 'a head on the pivotally mounted key .provided'with two bearings,- one above and the other below the pivot of the keyforv selective connection with the transmitter to cause pivotal movement of the key in the same. direction and thereby operatively position the body portion of the key when the feeler support is reversed.

r In testimony whereof we have signed our names, this 20th day of July, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five. LARKIN H. BROWN. GEORGE E REPASS. 

